Alma Cogan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alma Cogan
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Cogan in Tel Aviv, 1963
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alma Angela Cohen Cogan |
| Born | 19 May 1932 London, England |
| Died | 26 October 1966 (aged 34) London, England |
| Genres | Traditional pop |
| Years active | 1952–1966 |
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Alma Cogan was a very popular English singer in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her full name was Alma Angela Cohen Cogan. She was born on May 19, 1932, and passed away on October 26, 1966. People often called her the "Girl with the Giggle in Her Voice." This was because she would sometimes giggle while singing! She was so successful that she became the highest-paid female entertainer in Britain during her time.
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Alma Cogan's Early Life and Music Journey
Alma Cogan was born in Whitechapel, London. Her family had Jewish roots, with relatives coming from Russia and Romania. Her parents were Mark and Fay Cogan. Alma also had a sister, Sandra Caron, who later became an actress. Sandra was famous for playing "Mumsey" in the TV show The Crystal Maze. Alma's father worked as a haberdasher, which meant he sold small sewing items like buttons and ribbons. Because of his job, the family moved often.
Even though her family was Jewish, Alma went to St Joseph's Convent School in Reading. Her mother really wanted both her daughters to be in show business. Alma was even named after a silent movie star, Alma Taylor! Alma first sang in public at a charity show in Reading. When she was eleven, she won £5 in a singing contest in Brighton.
At 14, famous singer Vera Lynn suggested Alma for a show in Brighton. She performed there for a week with comedian Max Miller. When she was 16, bandleader Ted Heath told her she was too young for the music business. He later said letting her go was a big mistake! Alma also sang at tea dances and studied dress design. She even performed as a dancer in London musicals like High Button Shoes. In 1949, she became a regular singer at the Cumberland Hotel in London. There, a music producer named Walter Ridley discovered her and signed her to HMV.
Becoming the "Girl with the Giggle"
Alma Cogan's first songs were "To Be Worthy of You" and "Would You." She recorded them on her 20th birthday. After this, she started appearing on popular radio shows. She became the main singer for the BBC Radio comedy show Take It From Here from 1953 to 1960.
In 1953, while recording a song called "If I Had a Golden Umbrella," Alma accidentally giggled. She decided to keep the giggle in her songs, and it became her special trademark! Soon, everyone knew her as the "Girl with the Giggle in Her Voice."
Many of Alma's songs were covers of hits from the United States. Her voice was often compared to Doris Day's. Her first big hit was "Bell Bottom Blues," which reached number 4 on the music charts in 1954. Alma had 18 songs in the UK Singles Chart during the 1950s. Her song "Dreamboat" even reached number 1! Other popular songs included "I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango" and "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". Her first album, I Love to Sing, came out in 1958.
Alma was one of the first British singers to appear on television often. Her strong voice, cheerful personality, and amazing costumes made her stand out. She designed her own outfits, which often included big, hooped skirts with sequins. She almost never wore the same outfit twice! Singer Cliff Richard remembered her many different dresses. Alma was voted "Outstanding British Female Singer" four times by NME readers between 1956 and 1960.
Changes in the 1960s
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When the 1960s arrived, music changed a lot with the rise of bands like the Beatles. Suddenly, Alma Cogan's style seemed a bit old-fashioned to some people. Dancer Lionel Blair said she was seen as "square." Her highest chart position in the UK in the 1960s was number 26 with "We Got Love." Most of her success during this time was in other countries, especially Sweden and Japan.
Alma was disappointed that her 1963 cover of "Tell Him" didn't become a hit in the UK. However, her version of "Tennessee Waltz" in 1964 was a huge success in Sweden. It was number 1 for five weeks! It also did well in Denmark and Germany. In 1965, she had another number one hit in Sweden with "The Birds and the Bees". When she toured Sweden in the mid-1960s, younger pop bands playfully called her "popmormor," which means "pop-grandmother."
Alma also wrote some of her own songs. She co-wrote "Just Once More" in 1963 and "It's You" in 1964 with her pianist, Stan Foster. "Just Once More" reached number 10 in Sweden. Alma remained a popular star in British entertainment. She was even offered a role in the musical Oliver! and appeared on the popular teen TV show Ready Steady Go!.
Alma Cogan's Personal Life
Alma lived with her mother in a fancy apartment in Kensington High Street, London. She loved to entertain other famous people there. Many stars visited her home, including Princess Margaret, Noël Coward, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Michael Caine, Frankie Vaughan, Bruce Forsyth, and Roger Moore.
John Lennon of The Beatles became good friends with Alma after meeting her on the TV show Ready Steady Go! in 1964. Alma was also close to the other Beatles, especially Paul McCartney. Paul even played the melody for his famous song "Yesterday" on Alma's piano for the first time! He also played tambourine on one of her recordings.
Illness and Passing
Alma tried to update her music style by recording some Beatles songs. But by 1965, her health began to decline. She started a series of club performances in northern England in early 1966. However, she became very ill after two shows and had to be treated for cancer.
Alma made her last TV appearance in August 1966. The following month, she became unwell while touring Sweden. She passed away from ovarian cancer in London on October 26, 1966, at the age of 34. Her family observed traditional Jewish customs for her burial at the Jewish Cemetery in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Alma Cogan's Legacy
Alma Cogan's life has inspired books and films. A novel called Alma Cogan by Gordon Burn imagined her life as an older woman. This book won an award in 1991. A radio series was also made from this novel.
There is also a romantic comedy film called In Love with Alma Cogan. It's about an older theater manager who remembers meeting Alma Cogan when she performed at his theater long ago.
To honor Alma Cogan, a blue plaque was placed at her former home, 44 Stafford Court, on November 4, 2001. Blue plaques are special signs that mark buildings where famous people lived or worked.
Discography
Biography
- Alma Cogan: The Girl With The Laugh In Her Voice by Sandra Caron (Alma's sister) – ISBN: 0-7475-0984-0
Images for kids
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Cogan in Tel Aviv, 1963
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Cogan (right) with Israeli singer Ilana Rovina, Tel Aviv, 1963
